PUB giants Wether-spoons say they are still determined to open an outlet in Accrington - despite pulling out of a third attempt to move into the town.

PUB giants Wether-spoons say they are still determined to open an outlet in Accrington - despite pulling out of a third attempt to move into the town.

The Watford-based chain, which boasts 560 traditional-style pubs nation-wide, was negotiating to take over three retail units on Broadway.

Lawyers began the purchase of the units - which house a bargain shop and Wilson's Greengrocers - in January, but the deal fell through this week.

It is the third time that Wetherspoons, which also has pubs in Blackburn, Nelson and Burnley, has looked into opening a branch in the town. Early last year it abandoned plans to take over two retail units on Broadway, on the grounds that the premises were too small.

It then started negotiations to take over the former Lar-de-Dars nightclub, on Willow Street - now transformed into new nightspot Club Eclectic - but this idea was ditched last May after bosses said it would cost much more than expected to renovate the building.

The project to open in Accrington could cost up to £1m and bring in around 30 full-time and part-time jobs.

A spokesperson for the firm said that the third deal had collapsed for "commercial reasons" but that they were considering other sites in the town centre.

He said: "We still want to open a pub in Accrington and we are still looking for sites. There is one site in particular that we like, but we are not yet at the stage where we can say what it is.

"But we don't want to jump in to anything. We might decide that it is worth waiting three or four years for the best site for us - we will find it in due course. There is nothing active at the moment but we are looking out for any opportunities that may arise."